<p>Hello,
I just wanted to know what exactly is an open curriculum and what does brown have that is special.</p>
<p>From what I remember 2 years ago -- you can study any major you want -- as in "create your own major", take pass/fail classes in any subject, meaning no letter grades, no + or -'s.</p>
<p>I guess that's what makes them "special".</p>
<p>the open curriculum allows you to take whatever classes you want, with no core requirements. once you declare a major, you must fulfill those classes to get a degree (obviously). </p>
<p>brown does allow you to take any class pass/fail, and the grades are given on an A B C no credit system (i believe). Also, no cumulative GPA is calculated, nor is class ranking</p>
<p>thats a good thing? how will job recruiters compare you to anyone else if no GPA and rank is calculated?</p>
<p>the idea is to give you the autonomy to set the direction of your own education. The alternative is being forced to take a rigid core curriculum (Columbia, Chicago, and others do this). People that go to Brown tend to feel that they are smart enough to decide which classes they want to take for themselves.</p>
<p>okay. well, i guess thats good, cause i dont want to take a single english class EVER AGAIN! but, will probably take public speaking if they have it.</p>
<p>actually, i think you are still required to take one creative-writing-english-class-off some sort before you graduate</p>
<p>what i dont understand is then how to students have any sense of competition if all they know is if they are passing/failing? and if people are going to brown, I am gonna assume most pass.</p>
<p>Brown does not use the word "major." They refer to your "concentration." There ARE core requirements. Once you declare a concentration, there are also standards you must fulfill to graduate. Eg, you can't declare French, but take only 3 classes. Also, they do give grades below C.<br>
The idea is: say you want to go to med school. Instead of forcing you into a pre-Med program, they allow you to vary your classes assording to your interests. Take all the non-pre-med classes you want, as long as you can get into them and as long as you fulfill the standards of your concentration. Etc.</p>
<p>Its something that the hippies at Brown do when they arent busy promoting world peace or having naked gaypride dance parties.</p>
<p>^ yes, I'm sure that is quite an accurate representation of life at Brown...</p>
<p>Grad/Med schools see your transcript, which will have letter grades, unless you have opted to take all of your classes pass fail.</p>
<p>Sorry about stealing the thread... But I want to know what other colleges out there are offering Open Curriculum?</p>
<p>I believe that U of Rochester and Wesleyan have similar systems. There may be more, however.</p>
<p>MDT89, I hope your comment was facetious and not sardonic. Brown kicks more ass than Chuck Norris.</p>
<p>^ hahahahha perfect way to put it, I'd say!</p>